Providing enterprise switching for peer-to-peer multimedia

Abstract

The disclosure provides a system and method for internetworking IP and cellular networks. In one aspect, embedded wireless network intelligence may be used to service IP and/or IP connected communication devices. The communication devices may be session initiation protocol (SIP) devices. Thus, native SIP devices may be serviced by wireless network devices. The wireless services may comprise location, handoff and/or other servicing provided by wireless protocol methods.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 representing to a network element a wireline device in an enterprise network as a wireless device; and    locally switching traffic in the enterprise network between the wireline device and a wireless device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireline device comprises an IP device, the wireless device comprising a first wireless device, the method further comprising: 
 associating the wireline device with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card; and    registering with the network element the IP device as a second wireless device using the SIM card.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein registering with the network element comprises: 
 generating an IP packet encapsulating a registration request in a wireless protocol for the IP device; and    transmitting the IP packet to the network element.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless protocol comprises Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA).  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein locally switching traffic in the enterprise network comprises: 
 receiving from the wireline device a message for the wireless device;    determining that the wireless device is within the enterprise network; and    switching the traffic directly to the wireless device in the enterprise network.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireline device is a plain old telephone system (POTS) telephone.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireline device is an IP device.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising translating traffic between a wireline protocol processable by the wireline device and a wireless protocol processable by the wireless device during the local switching.  
   
   
       9 . A method for switching traffic within an enterprise gateway, comprising: 
 determining a communication session is between a plurality of communication devices connected to the enterprise gateway;    switching traffic of the communication session at the enterprise gateway; and    wherein at least one of the devices comprise a wireless device.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising registering with a network element the plurality of communications as wireless device, wherein at least one of the devices comprises a wireline device.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining a communication session is between a plurality of communication devices connected to the enterprise gateway comprises: 
 receiving the traffic destined for a first device of the communication devices; and    determining the traffic originated from a second device of the communication devices.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 determining a first protocol associated the first device and a second protocol associated with the second device; and    converting the traffic between the first protocol and the second protocol during switching.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wireless protocol comprises Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA).  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , switching traffic of the communication session at the enterprise gateway comprises: 
 switching bearer traffic between the plurality of communication traffic; and    transmitting control traffic to the network element.    
   
   
       15 . An enterprise gateway, comprising: 
 a SIM bank including one or more SIM cards; and    wherein at least one of the SIM cards is selectively assignable with different communication devices connected to the enterprise gateway.    
   
   
       16 . The enterprise gateway of  claim 15 , wherein at least one communication device comprise a SIP device.  
   
   
       17 . The enterprise gateway of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a controller operable to register the different communication devices with a network element as wireless devices in accordance with assigned SIM cards.    
   
   
       18 . The enterprise gateway of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further operable to determine a communication session is between at least two of the different communication devices and locally switch traffic between the two communication devices.  
   
   
       19 . The enterprise gateway of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a converter operable to convert traffic between at least one wireless protocol and at least one wireline protocol.    
   
   
       20 . A method for communicating over a network, comprising: 
 associating a SIM card with a SIP device; and    representing to a network element the SIP device with associated SIM card as a UMA device.    
   
   
       21 . A method for switching traffic within an enterprise gateway, comprising: 
 determining a communication session is between a plurality of communication devices connected to the enterprise gateway;    switching traffic of the communication session at the enterprise gateway; and    wherein at least one of the devices comprise a UMA device.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the UMA device comprises a native UMA device.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the UMA device comprises a SIP device and associated SIM card.  
   
   
       24 . The method for communicating between devices within an enterprise, comprising: 
 switching traffic between a native UMA device and a SIP device connected to an enterprise gateway; and    translating messages between SIP and UMA.